HORNETS top scorer Heidar Helguson is likely to miss tonight's clash at Ipswich with a knee injury, writes Derek Davis.The 16-goal striker has struggled to train after twisting a knee in the defeat at Sunderland 10 days ago and is not expected to make the squad travelling to Portman Road.

HORNETS top scorer Heidar Helguson is likely to miss tonight's clash at Ipswich with a knee injury, writes Derek Davis.

The 16-goal striker has struggled to train after twisting a knee in the defeat at Sunderland 10 days ago and is not expected to make the squad travelling to Portman Road.

Ray Lewington has the option of replacing him with Bruce Dyer but 10-goal Danny Webber is more likely to be a lone striker as Watford follow the trend of stringing five across midfield.

Manchester United youngster Chris Eagles is expected to figure on the right side of midfield after joining on a three-month loan stint, five years after the 19-year-old left Vicarage Road for Old Trafford's academy.

Another loanee, Johnnie Jackson, has extended his spell from Spurs for a third and final month, while keeper Paul Jones will return to Wolves after tonight's game.

Former Ipswich and Colchester United veteran keeper Alex Chamberlain is expected to stay on the bench, even though promising keeper Richard Lee is now fit after breaking a cheekbone.

The Watford manager is taking some heart from the two goals his side got after gifting Sunderland a 3-0 lead in a game in which Marcus Stewart scored a hat-trick. Lewington has seen enough of Ipswich to know that they can be lax defensively and, even without Helguson, he is hoping they can get their noses in front.

Lewington said: “Ipswich are probably the best footballing side in the division and always score goals.

“But we have to be heartened by the fact that they do sometimes give you a chance.”

Although the Hornets have failed to win their past 12 games in all competitions, and have only picked up one league point from a possible 18, Lewington has reminded his side how they managed to get a draw at Wigan earlier in the month.

He said: “No one gave us a chance of getting anything at Wigan, yet we came away with a 2-2 draw. We are just as likely to go to Ipswich and get a result as we were likely to go to Sunderland and lose.”

Watford did not play at the weekend due to the FA Cup ties and have slipped to 17th place, nine points ahead of third from bottom Gillingham.